February 9, 2016 8.21 am This story is over 96 months old

10,000 more users for Hykeham station, with further rise anticipated

Busier station: Ten thousand additional passengers have used Hykeham railway station in a single year, with a continued rise in numbers described as “inevitable”.

Ten thousand additional passengers have used Hykeham railway station in a single year, with a continued rise in numbers described as “inevitable”.

The station has seen a significant increase in the number of rail passengers using it over recent months, rising by 10,000 to 49,972 during 2014-15.

Figures are not yet available for the months since last May when a further 13 trains each day began stopping at Hykeham – but North Kesteven District Council has said that a continued rise is inevitable.

Over a decade, passenger numbers increased from 14,314 to 49,972, making Hykeham the second busiest station between Lincoln and Newark, after Collingham.

East Midlands Trains is currently surveying its network to gauge passenger numbers, including on the Lincoln – Newark – Nottingham line and has plans to increase the frequency of Saturday trains at Hykeham Station.

Alongside other local authorities along the route and the two Local Enterprise Partnerships, North Kesteven District Council has provided £30,000 funding over three years to secure the additional services which came online last summer.

North Kesteven District Council Deputy Leader, Mike Gallagher, said: “This increase in passengers is great news, and before the effects of the additional services are even factored in.

“It proves that people will use trains and public transport as visitors, residents and businesses where they are available, reliable and regular and I hope it gives a particular boost to the trading possibilities for the companies within the LN6 local area.

“Given a range of improvements through the Access LN6 project to the station’s car park and cycle facilities – with a new enlarged car park poised to open later this year – I look forward to seeing the impact of this investment in forthcoming figures.”